get the drift

To understand the general meaning of some situation or piece of information. Since I don't have time at work to read news articles in full, I usually just read a daily news recap to get the drift of what's going on in the world. I was so tired that I couldn't focus on the boss's speech during the meeting, but I think I got the drift of what he was saying. Oh, I got the drift of her "warning" all right—if I screw up again, I'm out.

get the drift

Also, catch the drift. Understand the general meaning or purport. For example, I didn't get the drift-do they want to go or not? or Over all the noise he barely managed to catch the drift of their conversation. The noun drift has been used for "purport" since the early 1500s.

catch/get somebody’s/the drift

(informal) understand the general meaning of what somebody says or writes: Do you catch my drift? ♢ My German isn’t very good, but I got the drift of what he said. ♢ He wasn’t the sort of boy you’d introduce to your mother, if you get my drift (= I have not told you all the details, but I am sure you can understand what I mean).